CWA union leadership's militant tactics worry Bosses

Source CWA local 2018 FB page

by Richard Mellor
Afscme Local 444, retired

I knew it would happen. I have predicted it. The union hierarchy has finally changed course.  I criticized the labor hierarchy in the last Verizon strike when about 46,000 of them went out and the brilliant minds in the union leadership decided the primary demand would be for the Verizon bosses to talk to them more nicely.*  But in the present dispute I think the leadership may well have gone too far, criticism of using ISIS tactics will come from Fox news, accusations of reading Stuaghton Lynde's works will be made or even worse, Trotsky's works on the trade unions.

I have just read the latest "militant" tactic in the dispute from the official press release below.  The plan was executed with military like precision as the workers wore camouflage to work and waved red bandanas. It is rumored that the bosses at Verizon have said that this is more militant than the Teacher's union tactics in California a couple years ago where the teachers were told to wear red on Fridays to prevent layoffs. Stories are circulating on social media that two Verizon executives have committed suicide by calling up Comcast customer service. They died from lack of water.

Donald Trump called the action terrorism and demanded those wearing the red bandanas in particular be sent to Guantanamo and the action has knocked Kim Kardashian off the front page of the National Enquirer.  Hilary Clinton has called for calm and put the National Guard on alert, "Black Lives Matter has nothing on this", Clinton said on the Rachael Maddow show. Bernie Sanders, distanced himself from the actions, "It's just plain un-American" he said. 

I have waited 30 years for this day.

"Verizon Workers Get Militant on Monday"

"CWA members working at Verizon marked their first Militant Monday yesterday by wearing camouflage and waving red bandanas at worksites across metro DC; check out several videos on CWA Local 2108’s Facebook page.  The Verizon workers continued to mobilize for a new contract, more than a week after the old agreements covering nearly 40,000 CWA and IBEW members expired. CWA expects to meet with the company on Wednesday; stay tuned for updates.

Press release from the Metro Washington Labor Council AFL-CIO

* Do a search for Verizon on this blog to read previous posts.